Yaya's focus on Liverpool

Expect the mind games, theories and tipsters to go into meltdown over the next 48 hours as one of the most eagerly awaited Premier League matches of recent times edges nearer.

There are plenty of exclusives here on mcfc.co.uk with Vincent Kompany and David Silva interviews to come today and tomorrow, but there are some interesting features in the national media this morning.

There’s plenty to go at but we’ll take a couple of topical snippets out to give you a taster, with Yaya responding to Redknapp’s question about whether Sunday’s game will decide the title.

Yaya said: “No doubt about it, the game will be very important. We know how difficult it will be against teams fighting relegation but the important thing is going to Liverpool and trying to get a good result.

“After that we have to continue to perform because if we want to win the league we have to win all games.”

Later, Yaya praises the Liverpool boss, adding: “This year they have been playing as a team. Brendan Rodgers is a great manager and everybody has been happy with him.

“Even my brother Kolo has had low game time but he is very happy with him. He always keeps his team 100 per cent fit and concentrating so it’s going to be tough.

“Against Liverpool, everything is going to come from everywhere. Gerrard can score penalties and free-kicks and Suarez is a danger man. But football is all about winning, about technique, about being clever and sharper.

“We are playing very well and we have a fantastic side. My target is to win a lot of trophies with this club.”

It’s well worth a read with some interesting snippets from Yaya’s past including how he ended up a goal-scoring machine.

Moving swiftly on and there is praise for City’s boss from one of his former charges today.

Arsenal play-maker Santi Cazorla is quoted on Soccerisma, taking a side swipe at his own employers before putting the Blues’ chief ahead of his own current manager.

They write: “Cazorla has had enough it seems as first he openly commented against the club for not having a winning mentality.

“Then he came up and criticized the transfer policy of Arsenal as they do not sign top stars when needed. That is perhaps the main reason why they have suffered this year as only an injured Kallstrom was brought when Gunners badly needed to reinforce strike force.

“Lastly, Arsenal star rated Manchester City’s Pellegrini as the best manager he has worked with as Cazorla claimed: ‘I learnt a lot from of all of the managers I have played for, but if I had to choose one it would be Pellegrini. He’s the coach that has given me the most during five to six years that I worked with him at Villarreal and Malaga.”

“He was the first person who took me to Malaga. We have a great relationship and I congratulate him because he’s doing well.’”

Finally, John Dillon’s comment piece in the Daily Express makes for interesting reading. He believes the contrasting styles of City, Liverpool and Chelsea have energized the Premier League this season and he, for one, is loving the twists and turns of the 2103/14 title race.

He writes: “On Sunday, they collide with a City team built around some of the most imposing and dependably professional and purposeful characters in the game; men like Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta.

“The Etihad has a seasoned team as well as a fine one. Its core has been in place for some while now - Kompany, Toure, Zabaleta, the wonderful David Silva and Sergio Aguero, have all served three years or more in the English game, which is one of the reasons they remain favourites for the prize.

“Amid all the swirl of foreign names and voices in the Premier League, here comes a collision of noise, fervour and uncompromising competitiveness of the kind which sets the English game apart. The contrast between the make-ups of the two teams make it burn even more attractively.”